online poker players

SHAWN RICE:
FROM TEXAS, WITH GAME

by John
Vorhaus

To say that Texan Shawn Rice sees things differently from most people is an understatement of epic proportions. Consider, for example, how his formal education came to an end: "I had to quit college," he says, "because I felt it was hurting my pool game." It was, in fact, from pool that he transitioned into poker. "I ran a pool hall for [poker great] Amarillo Slim. Then I began playing in Slim's daily game. Years of this led me to tuning my game and making me a better player."

A better player indeed. As a member of Online Team UB, this resident of Lubbock still carries with him the best advice he ever got from the legendary Amarillo Slim. "If you can't find a sucker in the game, you are it." Not that he generally falls into that role. "I think I'm very good at creating an image of a tight, solid player, and am able to change gears when needed." The key to his success, he says is, "I'm not afraid to put my chips in." In fact, "I am afraid not to put my chips in."

For those who are considering putting their whole lives' chip into play, Rice has some practical advice. First, "Don't quit your day job. Find a pro you respect and have them teach you." Amplifying this thought, he adds, "You gotta have an ace in the hole, meaning you need to have another source of income, Poker has too many ups and downs, and things to learn about poker, like money management or how you're often just one game from being broke." Bottom line: "Follow your passion. As long as it’s a passion, it’s not a job."

Shawn's new passion is teaching. "I have seen many great results from players who I have mentored. I love seeing them succeed." However, they'll have to go pretty far to surpass their teacher's accomplishments, including a second place finish at the WSOP in 2004, which netted him a cool $213,000.

Those who would similarly triumph in big tournaments would do well to follow Shawn's advice: "The most important thing is to be well rested and mind-ready for a long-fought fight. The day before the tournament is all about getting ready for the next day's big event." Shawn is also a huge fan of traveling with a supportive crew. "At the WSOP, for example, it's helpful if you have friends or family with you so your free time is well spent."

For someone who makes his living playing poker, Shawn has the knack of looking past the game to what's really important about life. "I have a love for life," he says. "I love spending time with friends and family. I am always looking for some fun event, like a concert or fun travels. You gotta live like you are on vacation."

At the same time, Shawn is hard nosed about the practical aspects of the game. "You have to forgive yourself if you played bad. If you are losing a lot, don’t justify it, but really try and see if you can do anything to help improve your play." When asked what he considers the most important skill in poker, he says (borrowing from friend and fellow pro Paul Wolfe), "KYP. Know your player. If you know much about your player, your decisions are much, much easier."

Living in Lubbock, in a new house he shares with his brother and his dog, Shawn divides his time these days between poker and his other passion, collecting rock and roll memorabilia. "I have many rare items. I should sell many of them, but it seems all I do is buy." Spoken like a true collector.

Spoken also like a man who has figured out that, at the poker tables or away from them, "Life is about following your dreams and passions." As for the poker life, "Just do it in a smart way. Have some set rules like having another income, because the reality of it is being able to support yourself well as a poker pro is a long shot."

Shawn Rice has the long shot dialed in – but isn't that about what you'd expect from a man who decided that pool was more important than school?

TWENTY QUESTIONS WITH ONLINE TEAM U.B.

It's a little game we call 20 questions. It has nothing to do with "animal, vegetable or mineral" and everything to do with you and what makes you the formidable poker force you are. Please be detailed and articulate in your answers, for we will use this interview to introduce you to all those UBers out there who want to get to know you better. Honesty would be great, but lie (see question 5) if you have to.

  1. TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF, YOUR BACKGROUND, EDUCATION AND UPBRINGING; HOW DID YOU GET WHERE YOU ARE TODAY? I quit college because I felt it was hurting my pool game, Later ran a pool hall for Amarillo Slim the began playing in the daily poker game is Amarillo, Years of this lead to me tuning my game and making me a better player.

  2. WHERE ARE YOU TODAY? WHERE DO YOU LIVE AND WHAT'S YOUR CURRENT FAMILY SITUATION? I live in Lubbock Texas I am unmarried I had a new home built about 2 years ago and live here with my brother and my dog.

  3. OKAY, ENOUGH OF THE PLEASANTRIES, LET'S GET TO THE POKER. IN A NUTSHELL, WHAT'S YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF THE GAME? Being I grew up with Slim in my home game, I like his philosophy of "If you can’t find a sucker in the game, you are it"

  4. WHAT'S A STRENGTH OF YOUR GAME? WHAT DO YOU DO (OR THINK YOU DO) BETTER THAN THE FOES YOU FACE? I think I am very good at creating an image of a tight solid players and able to change gears when needed, I am not afraid to put my chips in, I am afraid not to put my chips in.

  5. WHAT'S A WEAKNESS OF YOUR PLAY? WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO PUT YOU ON THE DEFENSIVE, OR EVEN FLAT ON YOUR BACK? I think my weakness is I don’t mix it up early during a tournament, I see many with a lot of chips early and it is pretty rare I have a big stack early.

  6. IT'S SELF-EVIDENT THAT REALWORLD POKER AND ONLINE POKER ARE WORLDS APART; WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES FROM A STRATEGIC POINT OF VIEW? Biggest difference between live and online is ability to read players and you will often find that you don’t see as much bluffing live as opposed to online play.

  7. I WAS PLAYING ON UB LAST NIGHT AND GOT SUCKED OUT ON BY A GUY WHO HIT LIKE TEN ONE-OUTERS IN A ROW. TELL ME THE TRUTH, BROTHER, ISN'T INTERNET POKER FIXED? Yes, Internet poker is fixed, fixed to allow the better players to win in the long run just like real live play. I rather play against a man drawing to 1 outters than Phil Ivey and Daniel everyday.

  8. PARANOIA AND CONFIRMATION BIAS NOTWITHSTANDING, THERE DOES EXIST AT LEAST THE POSSIBILITY OF COLLUSION/CHEATING ONLINE. WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON ALL THAT? Any where there is money involved people will be looking for shady ways to win it. I notice that the people who are looking to cheat can’t really play very well. In the long run I will still end up with the money. Also online is about a safe as a place to place cause the game can be monitored unlike many home games.

  9. BACK TO STRATEGY: IF YOU WERE TRYING TO GIVE SOMEONE THE FASTEST, BEST ADVICE ON NO LIMIT HOLD'EM, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Don’t quit day job and find a pro you respect and have them teach you.

  10. WALK US THROUGH YOUR APPROACH TO TOURNAMENT PLAY, ESPECIALLY FULL-FIELD, BIG BUY-IN EVENTS. I have played many big buy-in events, I think the most important thing is to be well rested and be ready for a long fought fight. Day before is all about getting ready for next days big event.

  11. HOW DOES YOUR TOURNAMENT STRATEGY DIFFER BETWEEN ONLINE AND REALWORLD PLAY; COMPARING, SAY, STONE COLD NUTS TO THE WSOP MAIN EVENT? I approach them the same way, try and be well rested and mind ready for a long fight. The WSOP is helpful if you have friends or family to help you with dinner breaks so you free time is spent well.

  12. WHAT BAD ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A POKER PLAYER YOU WERE TRYING TO HURT INSTEAD OF HELP? Have a drink to relax, It will soon catch up to you.

  13. A 23-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE GRADUATE HAS HAD SOME SUCCESS IN BOTH ONLINE AND REALWORLD PLAY AND HE'S THINKING OF TURNING PRO. STIPULATE THAT HE'S SINGLE, DEBT-FREE AND REASONABLY SANE. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE HIM? You gotta have an ace in the hole, meaning you need to have another source of income, Poker has too many ups and downs and mean things to learn about poker like money management or you are one game from being broke. Follow your passion, as long as it’s a passion it’s not a job.

  14. NOW TALK TO THAT KID'S MOTHER. HOW WOULD YOU JUSTIFY POKER TO HER AS A CAREER/LIFESTYLE CHOICE? Life is about following your dreams and passions it’s fine if you do it in a smart way. Have some set rules like having another income because the reality of it his chances of being able to support yourself well as a poker pro is a long shot.

  15. YOU'VE BEEN TO THE UB ARUBA POKER CLASSIC MANY TIMES. WHAT MAKES THAT TOURNAMENT SO SPECIAL? (I'M NOT SHILLING FOR ARUBA. I JUST LIKE HEARING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE PLACE.) Aruba is a very special place because of the people of Aruba, It really is a super safe place, Much more safe than it is in the US. Also the way Ultimate Bet runs such a super tournament, the parties and the seminars. It’s my favorite place to play everything is 1st class and everyone is there to really enjoy themselves.

  16. CARE TO SHARE SOME QUICK TIPS, TRICKS OR SITUATIONAL PLAYS I CAN INCORPORATE INTO MY GAME? The most important rule in poker (leaned this from Paul Wolfe) is KYP, Know your player. If you know much about your player, your decisions are much, much easier.

  17. GIVEN THAT "MAN DOES NOT LIVE BY POKER ALONE," WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN OR DISTRACTION WHEN YOU JUST CAN'T FACE ANOTHER FLOP? I have a love for life, I love spending time with friends and family. I am always looking for some fun event, like a concert or fun travels. You gotta live like you are on vacation.

  18. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE'RE ON SUCH HEATERS THAT WE THINK WE'LL NEVER LOSE AGAIN -- AND THEN TIMES WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE OUR GAME IS BROKEN BEYOND REPAIR. HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THE HIGHS AND -- ESPECIALLY -- THE LOWS OF POKER? You have to forgive yourself if you played bad, and if you are losing a lot, don’t justify it, really try and see if you can do anything to help improve your game.

  19. PLEASE SHARE WITH US ANYTHING ELSE YOU THINK WE SHOULD KNOW OR WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU, OR ABOUT POKER, OR ABOUT THE CELESTIAL ALIGNMENT OF THE STARS, OR BEER. I found out recently that I love to teach. I have seen many great results from players who I have spent many hours on the phone with and I love seeing them succeed.

  20. What are your interest outside of poker? I love to collect rock and roll memorabilia, have many rare items I should sell many of them it seems all I do is buy. I have also owned night clubs when I lived in Amarillo. I live in Lubbock but feel Amarillo is still very much home to me, I lived there for 17 years.